We are a team of Psychotherapists and Music Therapists who help your life shine a little brighter. 🎶🌞🧠
02/02/2026
When your brain is flooded with constant input, it doesn’t get the chance to properly process or integrate. This can lead to decision fatigue, irritability, difficulty sleeping, or a sense of being emotionally “numb.” Psychologically, this is known as overstimulation, and it places the nervous system into a prolonged state of alertness.
Mindful consumption is one of the simplest ways to protect against this. Notice what leaves you feeling grounded versus what leaves you feeling drained.
Just as your body needs rest between physical exertion, your mind needs rest between information intake and completing tasks.
Pausing is an intentional way to reset.
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01/30/2026
Keep going. Even if today feels slower than yesterday. Growth doesn’t have to be loud or obvious.
Sometimes (many times) it’s just choosing to show up, even when it’s hard. That choice is already progress 💛
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01/26/2026
January doesn’t always come with clarity or motivation, and that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
For many, this month brings heaviness, flatness, and a sense of simply getting through the days. From a therapeutic perspective, this is not failure, it’s your nervous system responding to winter, reduced light, and the emotional exhaustion of the months before.
In our January blog, Not Unmotivated, Just Wintering: Making Sense of January's Emotional Fog, we explore:
• why energy and motivation naturally dip in winter
• how biology, burnout, and emotional processing intersect
• why January is better understood as a season of nesting, not reinvention
• and how therapy can support rest, regulation, and reconnection during darker months
If January feels harder than you expected, this post is an invitation to soften your self-judgment and meet yourself with compassion.
✨ Read the full blog on our website.
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01/23/2026
During this transitional time, emotional health depends on how well you tend to what’s stirring beneath the surface. Simple practices like limiting social media intake, checking in honestly with how you feel, building pauses into your calendar, and gently saying “no” to what drains you — these are powerful tools. They help protect your nervous system, support your physical well-being, and preserve your more soulful inner voice.
And remember, you don’t have to wait until things get intense to prioritize your mental health. Preparing emotionally is a gift to yourself and those you love at any time of the year 💛
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01/21/2026
If this season feels overwhelming, you don’t have to carry it alone 💛
Our Shine therapists are here to listen, to support, and to walk alongside you.
✨ Book a session today. Your well-being is worth it.
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01/19/2026
Music has a way of giving form to feelings we can’t always name. Think about the lump in your throat when you hear a certain song, or the relief of humming softly when you’re overwhelmed. Music bypasses the analytical mind and speaks directly to our emotional core.
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In therapy, this means we can gently access grief, joy, longing, or hope often more quickly than through language alone. This kind of emotional release isn’t about being “dramatic” or “too much””. It’s about allowing your body and mind to let go of what has been held too tightly, making room for healing.
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“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – Bob Marley
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mindbodyconnection
01/15/2026
No better way to start off the work day ☕️
Our clinic director and supervisor, Julia and Noreen, met for a leadership lunch op to discuss all things related to Shine.
Exciting things are on the horizon! Always grateful for the opportunity to plan and set visions together.
peersupport
01/14/2026
Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. When therapy is done well, it’s a space that honours your whole self; mind, body, and spirit.
It’s about being met with presence, not pressure, being seen without needing to explain yourself, and having tools that speak directly to your lived experiences.
The mental support, physical release, and spiritual grounding you receive in therapy aren’t always visible but they are deeply felt.
And slowly, you begin to notice the shifts:
• More ease in your body
• More space in your mind
• And more compassion in how you meet yourself
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01/12/2026
Starting 2026 off strong with the best 💛
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Did you know? Our team meets on a monthly basis to learn about new resources, interventions and approaches that can be implemented in our sessions, in order to best support our community!
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A team well supported = a community well served. As they say, “team work makes the dream work” 🌞
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healingtogether
01/09/2026
You don’t have to control it all. Sometimes peace is simply shifting the way you carry what’s already here 🌙
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01/07/2026
You don’t need to justify your emotions. You don’t need to explain why you’re tired, sad, hopeful, anxious, or joyful. Your feelings are valid simply because they exist.
Give yourself permission to feel without explanation. It’s one of the deepest forms of self-respect.
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01/05/2026
Have you ever noticed how a single song can shift your entire mood? That’s not coincidence…it’s neuroscience!
Music activates areas of the brain tied to memory, emotion, and even physical movement. It can regulate your heartbeat, lower stress hormones, and release dopamine (the “feel-good” chemical).
Music therapy harnesses these effects intentionally, creating a safe space where rhythm, melody, and sound become pathways to healing. For some, it may look like listening to calming compositions that bring relief to anxiety; for others, it’s drumming, singing, or improvising as a way to release emotions that words can’t quite reach.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Shine Music and Therapy Services:
Music Therapy (Board-Certified) and Music Lessons ♫ Empowering those in our community one song at a time. Based in Mississauga, Ontario.
More about Music Therapy at Shine Music Co.
Julia takes a humanistic, client-centered approach when working with her music therapy clients. Julia offers quality care that focuses on one's individuality and uniqueness and believes that music has an innate ability to help one reach their fullest potential. Julia uses musical and non-musical interventions to meet the needs and goal areas of her clients, whether they be emotional, spiritual, educational, or physical.
Which client populations do you specialize with?
- Anticipatory Grief, Palliative Care, and Bereavement
- Developmental Disorders and Special Needs
- Memory Impairment and Dementia
- Mental Health Disorders
Where do sessions take place?
Individual and Group Programs are now available at our new studio located in Mississauga, Ontario. Additionally, Julia holds many contracts and subcontracts at residential hospices, day programs, and long-term facilities where she provides services to those in and around her community. Please contact with all in-home service inquiries.
For more information about music therapy at Shine Music Co., please click here: https://www.shinemusicco.com/what-is-music-therapy
More about Music Lessons at Shine Music Co.
We provide music lessons to those of all ages and abilities. Trained extensively in classical, musical theatre, contemporary, and jazz genres, Julia is equipped with the knowledge to help you reach your goals. Trained and certified as a music therapist, Julia believes that lessons should be fun, uplifting, and catered to the individual needs of each student.
At Shine Music Company, we offer:
- Voice Lessons
- Piano Lessons
- Guitar Lessons
- Ukulele Lessons
- Theory lessons
- Songwriting Courses
